By Katie Pointer Baney
In the last presidential debate, to the surprise of many, Vice President Kamala Harris revealed she is a gun owner. She insisted, “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away.” Yet Harris’ prior rhetoric and her policy proposals tell a much different story and stand in stark contrast to her newly-found devotion to the Second Amendment in a race for president that is set to be determined by a razor-thin margin.
To be clear: the Second Amendment is on the ballot in November. This election is set to shape the future of self-defense rights for generations. President Biden himself recently acknowledged that the next President could also get to name two Supreme Court justices.
A sizable and influential voting bloc that is often overlooked but is primed to shape the outcome in many key battleground states is law-abiding gun owners. These Americans rightly want to protect themselves from surging crime rates and a public safety crisis in many parts of the country, as well as be the first line of defense for their families.
In recent years, gun ownership has reached a record high across America, with 52 percent of voters reporting they or a member of their household own a gun. According to Pew Research, over 70% of gun owners cite the desire for personal protection as the main reason they own a gun. In fact, in battleground states, crime and public safety remain top issues for voters this election.
The surge of new gun ownership is in part due to a self-defense awakening that has taken place throughout the country by people of diverse backgrounds, clearly illustrating a strong and growing coalition of voters who want to see their God-given rights protected.
With over 10 million hunters and gun owners not currently registered to vote, there is a unique opportunity to engage this passionate voting bloc. The sheer number of new gun owners in America today also makes them a political force, especially in closely contested races. Over 10,000 votes separated the candidates in the 2020 presidential election in the battleground state of Arizona. Less than 12,000 votes decided the winner in Georgia.
“Over 10 million Hunters and Gun Owners are not registered to vote!” – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (Florida)#GOP #RNC #USCCA pic.twitter.com/8zyjrF7cMS
— USCCA (@USCCA) July 18, 2024
To put that into further context, the USCCA, the nation’s fastest-growing group dedicated to responsible gun owners and their education and training, has over 850,000 members nationwide. Over 50,000 of are located in Pennsylvania, which President Trump lost by just 80,000 votes. If these voters make their voting preferences heard, they have the potential to flip a key swing state in November. In swing states, where elections are often decided by the narrowest of margins, gun owners can and should play a decisive role in the election’s outcome.
The first job of Second Amendment advocates is to engage these voters where they are and make a compelling case to ultimately get them to the polls this election season. One of the ways to motivate gun owners to get out and vote is to talk to them about issues they deeply care about, including their fundamental right to self-protection.
It has never been easier or more seamless to get involved this election cycle, with brand-new tools to make registering and voting as easy as possible. That is why the USCCA for Saving Lives Action Fund was launched with the mission of educating and equipping responsible gun owners to participate in the political process and advocate for their God-given rights.
The stakes are high. We have seen the extreme anti-gun agenda from the Biden-Harris Administration play out over the last four years. Whether calls on Congress to pass so-called “red-flag” laws that infringe upon Americans’ rights to due process or attempts to ban so-called “assault weapons,” it is no secret that the Second Amendment has been under attack since President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office.
Equally important as the top of the ticket are down ballot races at the state and local level. States including Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia all considered gun-related legislation this year.
With 38 days until election day, the future of the Second Amendment is on the line. Sound policies that protect our fundamental rights are not possible without engaging these voters. American gun owners must understand what’s at stake in November. These are Americans from all walks of life committed to defending their families and preserving our freedoms – and they must recognize the importance of protecting these fundamental rights at the ballot box. If they step up and become involved in the political process they are poised to be an influential coalition.
Katie Pointer Baney is the managing director of government affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association and the executive director of the USCCA for Saving Lives Action Fund.